Naomi Osakais continuing to push boundaries.
The tennis superstar is featured in a new video promoting the upcomingSummer Olympics, in which she says she wants “to inspire” other girls who may, like her, have been told they “don’t fit the box of what an Olympian should be.”
“People might think I’m quiet, different … but I am proof that the definition is bigger than people think,” Osaka, 23, says in a voiceover.
She goes on to say, “Iwant to inspire girls out therewatching right now — the ones that some people think are too different, too quiet, too something.”
“And if we don’t fit that expectation of what people think we’re supposed to be, good,” Osaka adds. “That just means we’re the ones who get to change it.”
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Naomi Osaka’s Olympics ad.olympics/ youtube
Penning apowerful new essayforTimemagazine, the tennis pro opened up about putting her self-care first, saying that athletes deserve “the right to take a mental break from media scrutiny on a rare occasion without being subject to strict sanctions.”
“In any other line of work, you would be forgiven for taking a personal day here and there, so long as it’s not habitual. You wouldn’t have to divulge your most personal symptoms to your employer; there would likely be HR measures protecting at least some level of privacy,” she wrote.
“In my case, I felt under agreat amount of pressure to disclose my symptoms— frankly because the press and the tournament did not believe me,” Osaka added. “I do not wish that on anyone and hope that we can enact measures to protect athletes, especially the fragile ones. I also do not want to have to engage in a scrutiny of my personal medical history ever again. So I ask the press for some level of privacy and empathy next time we meet.”
The athlete explained that she is “naturally introverted and [does] not court the spotlight,” adding, “I always try to push myself to speak up for what I believe to be right, but that often comes at a cost of great anxiety.”
“I feel uncomfortable being the spokespersonor face of athlete mental health as it’sstill so new to me and I don’t have all the answers,” she wrote. “I do hope that people can relate and understand it’s okay to not be okay, and it’s okay to talk about it. There are people who can help, and there is usually light at the end of any tunnel.”
If you or someone you know needs mental health help, text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.
To learn more about all the Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls, visitTeamUSA.org. Watch the Tokyo Olympics beginning July 23rd and the Tokyo Paralympics beginning August 24th on NBC.
source: people.com
